Dallas Morning News gives MLK parade a positive spin; a pro-life march, not so much

If I spent all of my time pointing out examples of liberal bias in the press, I wouldn't have time for much else. I do enough of that already over at When Liberals Attack. However, if you want to see a contrast in coverage of similar events, the Dallas Morning News provided that today. A story by Michael Young put a positive spin on Saturday's Martin Luther King Day parade, highlighting how the weather didn't affect the spirits of the small crowd that turned out. A story by Sam Hodges covering the pro-life march downtown, which was held at about the same time, made no mention of the weather, instead mentioning in the headline and body that the crowd was well below a goal of 10,000 (the exact size was never mentioned). Now, I was told the pro-life crowd was bigger than the MLK crowd, but it really doesn't matter. Both are noble causes that deserve support. So where's the love for the pro-life crowd? Is the crowd size the best angle? I don't know Sam Hodges and we shouldn't question his partiality based on one article, but it is an interesting comparison nevertheless.

Wasting money on the census

I saw this the other day on Fox 4 News and it made me wonder. With the census upon us again, the government is trying hard to make sure Latinos are accurately counted. I'm sure their ideas are well meaning, but the idea being shown in this news report is just a waste of time. The Census Bureau here in Dallas sent out a couple of young mariachis - I guess they were "pop mariachis," as they weren't singing the traditional music, to encourage folks to answer the Census outside of a south Dallas grocery store. Really? Things like this make for good TV but at best, they maybe convinced a few dozen folks walking out of the store to take the census. This is all window dressing so we can later say we tried to count all Latinos. The only thing that works, that solves a lot of problems, is EDUCATION. Of course, that's way too much work. Mariachis are more fun. The bottom line is, we need to change the way the Latino culture thinks. It takes an outreach in the schools, where kids can learn the truth without the fear of government inherent in our culture. If Telemundo and other Spanish-language stations made a commitment to airing less trash and more programming of substance, we could make some progress on this problem.

Yes, Virginia, There is Still a Merry Christmas

With Christmas upon us, I thought I'd reprint my column from last year's Dallas Morning News. I hope you enjoy it. Merry Christmas!

"Yes, Virginia, There is Still a Merry Christmas"
from the Dec. 25, 2008 Dallas Morning News
by Victor Medina

Dear Virginia,
After your famous letter about Santa Claus, I thought it best to write you before you start to worry. Many people are wondering where Christmas went. It seems some folks don't mention it any more. Instead of "Merry Christmas," they say "Happy Holidays," "Season's Greetings" and "Happy Winter Solstice." If you go shopping, you may have noticed most stores won't mention Christmas by name or who it is named for. You probably saw news stories on TV that most cities and schools don't allow nativity scenes or any mention of the fact that Christmas is Jesus' birthday.

This is because they think it's the "politically correct" thing to do. You may not understand what "politically correct" means, and it's a little hard to describe even to adults, but it basically means: Don't offend people with lawyers.

Some people just don't want a Merry Christmas. Every once in a while, the Scrooges of the world gather together with the overeducated and the litigious, the skeptics and the religious bigots, and assorted patronizing New-Agers and all try to re-create Christmas in their own image. They are the ones who started the rumors about Santa being a fake, too.

After awhile, we all come around to our senses and things go back to normal. Yes, Virginia, there is still a Merry Christmas. You can say it to people and not worry about offending them. Even our Jewish brothers and sisters don't mind hearing it. If they point out their heritage, just apologize and wish them a Happy Hanukkah and a joyous Festival of Lights.

You usually don't run into people who get offended with a "Merry Christmas." They're too busy teaching at universities, making movies or chasing ambulances to meet you. If someone does get offended, just smile and say, "I'm sorry." In truth, if someone is so bitter that he or she can't stand to see others happy, you should feel sorry for him or her.

Some people think there is no room in this world for celebrating Jesus' birthday. The truth is that this world needs to celebrate it more than ever. Why some people are so afraid of a baby in a manger is beyond me. Maybe it's because they realize what that baby means. The Christ of Christmas was a gift that changes lives, even today. Angels heralded His arrival with "Peace on Earth" and "Goodwill to Man." Who couldn't use a little more of that?

Take the Christ out of Christmas, and it's just another day. It's an excuse for shopping or hanging lights. Those things are nice, but it's not what Christmas is all about. The spirit of Christmas, that special feeling you feel this time of year, isn't made by gifts and lighted trees. It's a mix of hope, love, faith and care for our fellow man. That's what the Scrooges all miss.

You can't outlaw that spirit or shame it into the ether. Ban it from public displays and town squares, and the spirit of Christmas finds a way. People will burst into a Christmas carol for no reason. Explosions of spontaneous generosity break out. Christmas miracles become a common occurrence. Yes, Virginia, there is still a Merry Christmas.

Christmas cannot be canceled, not by a dozen recessions. It cannot be smothered, not by a thousand Scrooges. It cannot be forgotten, not by a million cynics. There has never been, nor will there ever be, a problem or crisis in this world that cannot be solved with the love that God has shown us at Christmas.
It is why people say to keep the spirit of Christmas going all year long. We know of whose spirit they speak:

The Christ of Christmas told us how to truly celebrate His birth and life: Give someone who is thirsty a drink. Give someone who is hungry food. Give someone who is cold a blanket to keep him or her warm. Give someone who is sick the care he or she needs. Give someone who is homeless a place to lay his or her head. Give widows and orphans the help they may need. Give your neighbors and your enemies the love and respect you would like to receive. When you do those things for people, the Christ of Christmas said you do it for Him. Yes, Virginia, there still is a Merry Christmas.

As long as love, faith, hope and joy exist, Christmas, and its namesake, will endure in this world.

My Dallas Morning News Blog Entry

Roy Appleton at the Dallas Morning News Oak Cliff blog was kind enough to post my thoughts on the recent murder of one of our neighbors, and my questions for how we as a community should address it. I've gotten some great feedback and I appreciate the notes I've received. To see the post in its entirety, you can click here to read my thoughts.

Get in the Christmas spirit with Arlington Jones at the Dallas Museum of Art!

Arlington Jones is an outstanding jazz musician whose new CD, "Vintage Christmas," is now available online from his website as well as iTunes and Rhapsody, among others. If you need some soulful Christmas music to get in the holiday spirit, then go see Arlington at the Dallas Museum of Art on Thursday, December 3, where he performs at 6:00 p.m. as part of the "Jazz in the Atrium" series. You can even pick up the CD there. I really hope you'll go, I guarantee you will enjoy it - Arlington's been a friend since high school and he is truly a gifted musician. 

We get the coverage we deserve

Texas State Rep. Norma Chavez is upset that more Hispanics aren't adequately represented in Texas history books. I decided to post a response to a Dallas Morning News story about it on their site, which you can read here. I copied my response below, which I kept very brief:

While I think it is important to ensure that minorities are represented in history books, it should be a truthful representation, not one that seeks a balance or quota based on the fact that a minority group grows in terms of population.

If Chavez has a real beef, she should cite specific examples, not try to score political points. I saw her statement, edited of course, and I saw no examples of "glaring" lapses in Latino coverage. If there is a lack of proper Latino leaders in the history books, it is a poor reflection of our race's lack of leadership, not the historian covering it. Otherwise we do a disservice to our race and all Texas schoolchildren.

I'm not a big fan of Chavez anyway - check out her Wikipedia page to read news reports of her ties to lobbyists and improper behavior towards the police. Her arguments ring hollow until she gives specifics.

My other job....

Besides the websites I work on, I do a lot of freelance writing. I provide articles from time to time for assorted publications and websites like eHow.com. One of my recent articles was just published at ConsumerCreditCardGuide.com. It was a short primer on buying gift cards and a look at the possible drawbacks. You can read it right here.

Great minds who think alike...

Since my last Dallas Morning News column I'm happy to say I've come into contact with a number of great people, in particular conservative and Republican Latinos around Dallas and nationwide. Among them are the Conservative Hispanic Society of Texas, based here in north Texas and a growing group on Facebook, and the Hispanic Leadership Fund located in D.C. I highly recommend you get to know both groups.

No thanks, Elba Garcia

Well, that didn't take long. Former Mayor pro-tem Elba Garcia isn't yet ready to return to the private sector. She has managed to find an office a Garcia hasn't held: Dallas County Commissioner! Elba is now running for the Commissioner seat currently held by Ken Mayfield. The question voters should ask is.....WHY? Mayfield has done a great job in his time as commissioner. He's picky with spending county funds, has kept county services on their toes, and best of all, he isn't afraid to take an unpopular position if it is in the county's best interests. I don't care what party you're in, that's what an elected official should do. With a perfectly good comissioner in place, what is Elba's excuse for running? Can she do a better job than Mayfield? It's doubtful. I know Ken Mayfield, and he is a good man, and a better commissioner.

We have already seen her campaign approach in her announcement to run. She said, "I'm Elba Garcia, I'm a Democrat, and I'm running for County Commissioner." Really? Because she's a Democrat, she deserves the seat? I'm telling you, that will be her plan. We'll hear what an evil Republican Mayfield is. They will try to portray him as anti-Hispanic and try to drum up the Latino vote. Suddenly, the man she never cared about enough before to even mention his name will now become Oak Cliff's biggest problem. The problem is, folks will buy it.

Three reasons why you SHOULDN'T vote for Elba Garcia were visible at her press conference when she announced her intention to run: to her side stood Royce West, John Wiley Price, and hubby Domingo Garcia. We don't need an extension of the Garcia Cabal. Elba was my councilwoman for years. She had ZERO impact on my neighborhood and our way of life. That's why she doesn't have my vote. Only influential people in her "circle" got attention. The little guy didn't. No thanks, Elba. We're good as it is.

The Best of Oak Cliff

Roy Appleton, who blogs about Oak Cliff for the Dallas Morning News, posted the other day about the Oak Cliff Chamber looking for nominees for their annual awards. As a former board member of the Chamber, I encourage any and all OC residents to send their suggestions in. Here are the categories and nomination details:

1. Best Oak Cliff business
2. Advocacy by an individual, group or business
3. Chamber super-volunteer
4. Quality of life award -- group or business that most improved OC in 2009
5. Best development in Oak Cliff in 2009
6. Event with most impact on Oak Cliff in 2009
7. Best Oak Cliff public servant

Send nominations and a brief explanation to smathis@oakcliffchamber.org by 5 p.m. Nov. 6. One nominee per category.

Another take on Republicans and immigration reform

Gee, I guess I'm not alone. Michael Gerson of the Washington Post has addressed the whole GOP and immigration reform issue as well, much more eloquently than I. Click here to read the column.

Dallas Morning News: The GOP & Immigration Reform

My Dallas Morning News column, about the GOP's moral obligation to immigration reform, is now available to read online by CLICKING HERE.

I know the column will be criticized by many as pro-amnesty or somehow bowing to lawbreakers. It's time we realize those are not the core issues. Our failure to help those trying to escape the bonds of poverty has created this problem, and our country has a long history of changing immoral laws. We should be in the business of creating law-abiding citizens, not branding people as criminals because they seek the blessings of liberty we enjoy everyday. We can find solutions if we are willing to stop politicizing.

My column in Saturday's Dallas Morning News

My column addressing the moral obligation of the Republican party to address immigration reform will run in Saturday's (10/3) Viewpoints section of the Dallas Morning News. Thanks for reading!

Is "The Invention of Lying" Anti-Christian?

The reviews are in, and Ricky Gervais' new film "The Invention of Lying" not only isn't very good, it has a vicious mean streak against Christianity that you won't see in the trailers. Movie Geek Feed and MovieGuide both detail how the film bashes faith and anyone who believes in God as an idiot believing a lie. My suggestion? Read the reviewers above before you decide to see the film.

Keep Your Money in the Cliff!

It's no secret that a strong community is supported by residents who spend their money in their own neighborhood. To that end, I suggest that business owners large and small, as well as entrepreneurs in Oak Cliff attend "Wake Up Dallas!" on Thursday, October 1. It's an early-morning networker that will be held in the Bank of America Building's Orion Ballroom (400 S. Zang Blvd., 15th Floor, 75208) from 7 to 9 a.m. Bring $2, business cards, brochures, and a door prize to be given away. The event is sponsored by the Oak Cliff Chamber, the DeSoto Chamber, the Southeast Dallas Chamber, the West Dallas Chamber, the Hispanic Chamber, and the Dallas Northeast Chamber. For more info or to RSVP, contact the Oak Cliff Chamber at (214) 943-4567.

My guest blog post at DallasNews.com

I have a guest post on the Dallas Morning News Opinion Page Blog today, addressing the outrage over the "You Lie" controversy. To read it, click here!

My new column at When Liberals Attack!

Since Matt Damon has a new movie coming out this week, I thought we should revisit Matt Damon's attack on Sarah Palin last year. Before you drop another $8.50 for one of his movies, click here to remind yourself what he thinks about strong, conservative women.

Meet your Oak Cliff City Council Members

Dave Neumann and Delia Jasso will be holding a "Town Hall Update" luncheon on Thursday, September 17. The event is part of the Oak Cliff Chamber of Commerce's "Food for Thought Luncheon" series and will be held at the Golf Club of Dallas at 11:30 a.m. Both Neumann and Jasso will be taking your questions.

This will be a great opportunity to meet your local officials and find out first-hand what is going on in the community. You don't even have to be a Chamber member to attend! Tickets are $20 for members and $25 for non-members. To attend, contact the Oak Cliff Chamber at (214) 943-4567.

My new site: When Liberals Attack!

My series of "When Liberals Attack" articles for Examiner.com have been so well received that I have decided to begin a second website dedicated just to the series. WhenLiberalsAttack.com will list all of my columns and hopefully make them easier to browse. I'm still populating the site with the columns, so it will be a few days before it is ready, but be sure to bookmark it and check it often!

My Dallas Morning News Op-Ed Piece

My latest column is an op-ed piece about the changes downtown that make the political process at city hall more transparent. It runs in Saturday's printed editions, but you can read it now by CLICKING HERE. Now, more than ever, it is important that we keep our elected officials to a higher standard, but it takes all of us becoming more engaged in the system. Pick an issue: graffiti, rezoning and development, ONCOR mowing down all of our trees, or anything else, and get involved. There are meetings and forums on budget and city issues all the time. If we don't stay involved, we can't complain about the corruption downtown or the poor state of our neighborhoods.